Category Archive Legal Services

Before you establish your business and register it in Thailand, you need to learn more about how this type of process works. Anybody who owns a foreign business in Thailand must comply with the Foreign Business Act, established in 1999. You need to make sure you comply and retain legal services. Otherwise, you could face some harsh penalties.

For example, non-compliance can result in spending three years in prison or paying a sizable fine. Also note, the Foreign Business Act stipulates that certain business activities cannot be performed by foreigners. Unless a foreign investor claims an exemption or applies for an associated license, he or she cannot form a Thai company.

What Foreigners Cannot Do in the Labor Market in Thailand

While there is no general restriction on a foreigner who wishes to conduct business in Thailand, he or she cannot engage in the following activities or fields:

Publishing newspapers

Broadcasting on the TV or radio

Raising livestock

Farming and harvesting rice or apples

Managing forestry

Overseeing a fishery, unless it has something to do with marine biology

Extracting herbs for medical use

Auctioneering Thai antiques

Manufacturing Buddha images or bowls for alms

Trading land

Companies that Can Register for Business in Thailand

If you want to register your business in Thailand, you can do so if you have formed your company, as follows:

As a registered ordinary or limited partnership

As a regional, representative, or branch office of your business

As a limited company

Registering as an Ordinary Limited Partnership

If you have an ordinary limited partnership, one of the partner’s liability is unlimited while the other partner’s liability is limited. This type of partnership is often registered in Thailand because of its easy formation and registration steps.

Registering Your Company as a Thai Majority Company

If you have 49% interest as a foreign investor and 51% of the company is owned and registered by Thai shareholders, you do not need to contribute as much capital upfront. This type of registered company is also easier to maintain. If you invest with Thai partners, they can buy land, if needed.

In fact, if you are a foreign investor, you may like this Thai-owned arrangement, as it is a fairly common business practice in Thailand. Thai law requires that you file balance sheets annually for this registered entity. You also must have a company address on file. You should be reasonably certain that the business can be profitable. Otherwise, it can become de-listed by Thai authorities.

If you invest in a limited company or partner with Thai majority shareholders, lawyers often assign the shares to the shareholders. Therefore, the shareholders do not have a direct interest in the company. Also, the income is normally disbursed through expenses, such as rent and salaries. In turn, shareholders usually do not have any equity to claim. This makes a Thai majority company quite attractive to a foreign investor.

How Much Capital Must Be Invested in a Thai-majority Company?

Currently, the minimum capital needed for a Thai majority shareholder company stands at 2 million Baht. The set-up fee charged by the government is about 7,000 Baht. If you are married to a Thai woman or man and are a foreign owner, the required set-up fee is lowered to 1 million Baht.

If you need to acquire a Foreign Business license, your minimum capital requirement stands at THB 3 million for each of your business activities.

How to Enjoy More Flexibility When Registering a Thai-based Company

If you are a foreigner who wishes to do business in Thailand and register a company, you may want to form a partnership with a Thai-born citizen. When this method is used, the Thai entity hands over the total power of attorney to the foreign investor. This would make it possible for you to buy assets.

As an owner of a joint venture, you will need to submit a tax return and pay a yearly tax, plus administrative fees. However, you have to be careful in this respect. Using nominee shareholders or forming a joint venture for the main purpose of owning real estate can get you into big trouble legally.

Paying the Tax after Registration

Once you register your Thai-based business, you will need to pay taxes. A corporate income tax or CIT is levied on a partnership or juristic company that performs business in Thailand. It must also be paid on income that is derived in the country.

If you want to succeed in business as a foreigner in Thailand, you will find that it is not as simple as it sounds. You need legal help to realize good gains as well as the support of the Thai community. You can also own 100% of a Thai-based company. However, to start a business in Thailand as a foreigner, it is usually more practical to know Thai business people who can support and help you with your business goals.

Use your Thai business partner’s knowledge to help you learn more about Thai registration and to practice compliance. Doing so will upgrade your professional reputation and make it easier to follow the laws that have been established for foreign-based interests.

If you need legal advice or assistance from a qualified corporate lawyer, please contact us today.

If you wish to invest in property or buy real estate in Thailand, you need to consult with a lawyer. You should never make an investment or purchase real estate without an experienced attorney at your side. Doing so can lead to some legal and financial problems – problems that could have been avoided by consulting with an attorney.

A common, yet major cause of delays in the issuance of Thailand business visa is the failure to comply with its documentary requirements. Oftentimes, such scenario is the result of resorting to traditional do-it-yourself techniques or plain negligence. But such “simple” mistakes result to inconvenient consequences. For one, business opportunities are lost. The indirect costs of visa reapplications are worse than failing to generate income and revenues. It consumes too much time and most importantly, it prevents an organization, or even an employee to obtain yet another salient document: the Thailand work permit.

Who must get the Thailand business visa?

Individuals or organizations forming an enterprise in Thailand are the primary targets of this visa. Likewise, foreign employees must acquire documents for the said visa. What are the requirements?

Listed below is the comprehensive and updated list of records and documents needed for the visa.

Type of Applicant Documentary requirements

Foreign employees

● Passport that is valid for 6 months
● Accomplished application form
● Passport photos (4 x 6 cm) taken within the last 6 months
● Proofs of sufficient financial income.
● Approval letter issued by the Ministry of Labor.
● For employees that have worked in Thailand before
● Company documents such as:
● Business license and registration
● List of shareholders
● Company profile
● A map showing the company’s exact location
● Relevant information about the enterprise’s activities
● Balance sheet, income and business tax statements
● Registration of value-added tax (Por Por 20)
● A comprehensive list of all the names of foreign workers
● If employed by companies that engage in tourism-related businesses

A key element in ensuring the approval of this visa is no other than a lawyer. Instead of relying on mere instincts and personal know-how, obtaining legal assistance from those who are well versed in this field is a sure-way to expedite the whole application process.